One person has died and ten others were severely burnt when a loaded fuel tanker caught fire at Chiweta in Rumphi on Wednesday.

Public Relations Officer for Rumphi Police Station Seargent Victor Khamisi said the fuel tanker was heading Mzuzu direction from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

He said upon reaching chiweta, the Tanzanian driver failed to negotiate a road curve and the Tanker fell the other side of the road.

“This happened around 7 am and during day time, as few policemen were providing security. Owners were making arrangements to offload fuel into another tanker but it was not done till dawn,” Khamisi said.

He said the situation changed in the evening as some people started siphoning fuel from the tanker.

“In the evening some overzealous men started stoning the police and overpowered them and they started siphoning fuel from the tanker. Some managed to hide it a nearby shops and houses.”

He said as the siphoning continued, there was a fire breakout that scorched one person to death and 10 others sustained heavy injuries.

“Ten others have been severely burnt and have been referred to David Gordon Memorial Hospital and Rumphi District Hospital where they are admitted for severe burn wounds,” Khamisi said.

The loaded tanker was being driven by Makiwa Ally Baruti, 53, from Muhambezi area in Tanzania.

The tanker and two nearby houses were burnt inferno.